The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards to help prevent fraud and to allow providers and Medicare clients access to secure account information queries, a news release states.

New Medicare cards, including new Medicare numbers, will be mailed out to recipients in a staggered, year-long process that began in April. The new numbers will be alpha-numeric and unique to each individual recipient.

“Once you receive your new card, you should destroy your old card and start using your new card right away in order to protect yourself by making sure no one can access your personal information from your old Medicare card,” the news release states.

Individual benefits will remain the same, despite the new cards and numbers.

The Center offers the following additional information about the new cards:

Make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be corrected, visit ssa.gov/myaccount or call 800-772-1213.

Beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card. CMS will never ask you to give them personal or private information to get your new Medicare number and card.